A term for sake temperature of around 35°C. It is usually translated as ‘body temperature’ or ‘as warm as a person’s skin’.

Hiyaoroshi

This is a type of once-pasteurized sake that is typically available in the Autumn. It has been pasteurized only once before cellaring over the summer, but not a second time before bottling and shipping out in the fall season. this is also known as “namazume”. Sometimes referred to as a “fall nama”

Honjozo

Classification name for sake made from water, yeast, koji and rice milled down to at least 70% of it’s original size as well as the addition of some distilled brewers alcohol.

I

Ichigo

A common single serving size of sake. equal to 180 ml.

Isshobin

The large 1.8 liter bottle of sake.

Izakaya

A relaxed and casual Japanese sake pub that sells small appetizers to pair with sake.

J

Jizake

This could be considered sake from a local small or artisanal producer.

Jokan

A term for sake temperature of around 45°C. It is often translated as ‘slightly hot’.

Jozo

A term that refers to the brewing process.

Jozo Arukoru

Japanese term for Brewer’s Alcohol.

Junmai

Classification name for sake made using only Rice, water, yeast and Koji – no additives or added alcohol. There is no minimum rice milling requirement for Junmai grade sake. Also called “Junmai-shu”. The “shu” suffix means ‘alcohol’ in Japanese.
Browse all Junmai Sakes in sakecompany.com

Junmai Daiginjo

Classification name for sake made from rice milled down to at least 50% of it’s original size. Also this sake is made using only Rice, water, yeast and Koji – no additives or added alcohol. Junmai Daiginjo is considered super premium sake. Also called “Junmai Daiginjo-shu”. The “shu” suffix means ‘alcohol’ in Japanese.
Browse all Junmai Daiginjo Sakes sakecompany.com

Junmai Ginjo

Classification name for sake made from rice milled down to at least 60% of it’s original size. Also this sake is made using only Rice, water, yeast and Koji – no additives or added alcohol. Junmai Ginjo is considered premium sake. Also called “Junmai Ginjo-shu”. The “shu” suffix means ‘alcohol’ in Japanese.
Browse all Junmai Ginjo Sakes in sakecompany.com

K

Kanpai

Japanese word for “Cheers!”. It literally means “empty cup”.

Karakuchi

A word to describe sake that is dry in flavor.

Kasu

The pressed rice solids or “lees” left over when sake is separated from the main mash after brewing.

Kobo

Japanese word for Yeast. In the making of sake, Yeast converts the available sugars into alcohol.

Kijoshu

A complex sake that is made by replacing some of the water used in brewing with sake.

Kikizake

Sake Tasting Event.
Follow our Kikizake courses and events.

Kikizakeshi

Japanese term for Sake Sommelier.

Kimoto

Kimoto describes a style of sake that uses the original yeast starter method. The yeast starter for Kimoto sake is rhythmically mixed using long paddles to combine yeast, water rice and koji into a starter mash that naturally promotes lactic acid development. Known for a robust and sometimes funky flavors.
Browse all Kimoto Sakes in sakecompany.com

Koji

Koji is an ingredient in sake production. It is a molded Rice that has been inoculated with Koji-kin mold

Koji-kin

A mold whose scientific name is Aspergillus Oryzae. This is the name for the mold that is used to create koji rice

Koku

A Koku is a unit of measure of the production output of a sake brewery. One Koku is equal to 180 liters of sake or one hundred isshobin sake bottles.

Koshu

Aged sake.
Browse all Koshu Sakes in sakecompany.com

Kura

Sake Brewery.

Kurabito

Sake Brewery Worker.

Kuramoto

President of the Sake Brewery.

M

Masu

Square box used as a sake cup. Traditionally made from Cedar, but also now found in plastic. This square shape was originally used as a measure of rice.

N

On the third day of brewing the main mash, this is the addition of koji, rice and water.

Namachozo

This is a type of sake that is cellared without being pasteurized, but does receive pasteurization before being bottled.

Namazake

Nama is unpasteurized sake. Also referred to as “Nama Sake” or simply “Nama”.

Namazume

This is a type of sake that is pasteurized only once before cellaring but not a second time before bottling and shipping.

Nigorizake

Also called “Nigori Sake” or simply “Nigori”, it is sake that is only coarsely filtered of rice solids after brewing. These tiny bits of the rice are left in giving this sake a creamy and milky appearance. Be sure to gently shake up a nigori before you pour. Sometimes also called “cloudy” sake.

Nihonshu

In the west, what we understand as “sake” (alcohol fermented from rice) is known as “Nihonshu” in Japan. It literally means Japanese Alcohol. In Japan, the word “Sake” means Alcohol in general, not just alcohol fermented from rice.

When sake rice is milled, it gives off Nuka powder or rice flour. This powder is often collected and re-sold by the sake brewery.

Nurukan

A term for sake temperature of around 40°C. It is usually translated as ‘gently warmed’.

O

Ochoko

Small ceramic sake cup.

P

Pasteurization

Pasteurization is the process of quickly heating sake to a high temperature to kill off all bacteria, yeast and enzymatic action to make sake shelf stable without refrigeration.

Prefecture

The country of japan is broken down into 47 locally governed states called Prefectures.

R

Reishu

Reishu is a term for sake served cold or chilled. If you want to ensure you get chilled sake in Japan (vs. heated sake) ask for Reishu.

S

Sakagura

Sakagura is a term to denote a sake brewery.

Sakamai

Sakamai is a general term for rice grown expressly for making sake.

Sakazuki

Sakazuki is a type of shallow footed sake cup often red in color.

Sake

“Sake” means Alcohol in Japanese. Depending on context, it can be pronounced either as “shu” or “sake”. What we refer to as “sake” in English, the Japanese call “nihonshu” meaning Japanese Alcohol (alcohol fermented from rice).

Sake Meter Value (SMV)

A scale that indicates the relative sweetness or dryness of a sake. Positive number are Dryer, negative numbers are sweeter. Also referred to as “nihonshu-do”.

San Dan Jikomi

This term referrers to the Japanese three step sake brewing method. Over four days, three additions of rice, water and koji are made to the main mash.

Sando

Sando is the level of acidity is sake.

Seimai

Seimai referrers to the step of rice polishing or rice milling during sake production. The goal of Seimai is to remove the outer layers and expose the starch in the core of each rice grain

Seimaibuai

Also known as Rice Milling Percentage. Indicates the percentage of the rice grain remaining after milling away the outer layers of each rice grain prior to brewing.

Seishu

The legal name for sake in Japanese.

Senmai

Senmai is the rice washing step of sake brewing. After milling, the rice must be washed to remove the rice powder.

Shibori

Shibori is the pressing stage of sake production. The sake mash is pressed to separate the rice solids from the alcohol.

Shiboritate

Shiboritate is freshly pressed sake. The sake is not aged or cellared, but shipped directly after pressing.

Shinpaku

This is the starchy center of each sake rice grain. In Japanese it’s called the “white heart”.

Shinseki

This is the rice soaking step of the sake production process.

Shizuku

Sometimes called “drip sake” this is a type of sake that does not undergo a typical pressing to separate the sake lees from the alcohol. The mash is hung up in bags and suspended over a vat. The sake drips out by the force of gravity alone. This type of sake is usually expensive and rare.

Shubo

The yeast starter. Also known as Moto.

Shuzo

Indicates sake brewing or Brewery. Breweries often add this word to their company name.

Sokujo

This is the modern or “fast” yeast starter method. Lactic acid is added directly to the yeast starter allowing the process to finish in 2 weeks vs. 4 weeks with the Kimoto or Yamahai methods, which develop lactic acid naturally.

Suzubie

A term for sake temperature of around 15°C. I’ve heard it translated as ‘lightly chilled’

T

Tanrei Karakuchi

A way to describe sake that is crisp and dry.

Taru

A wooden cask for storing sake, a barrel

Taruzake

Sake that has been stored or aged for a period of time in a cedar caks, so that the woody flavor of the keg is imparted to the sake.

Tobin

A rounded glass bottle used to hold sake. It holds one hundred 180ml servings or 18 liters.

Tobikirikan

A term for sake temperature of around 55 °C. Extremely hot sake.

Toji

Head or Master Sake Brewer. Team leader of all Kurabito at a given brewery.

Tokkuri

Small carafe for serving and heating sake. Traditionally made from ceramic.

Tokubetsu

Tokubetsu means “special”. It is a designation that a special production process was applied to a Junmai or Honjozo grade sake. Usually, it means that a lower milling rate than required was used.

Tomezoe

This is the third addition of rice, water and koji to the main mash.

U

Umami

Taste profile sometimes identified in sake. Often translated as savory.

Umeshu

“Plum Sake”. Made by soaking whole plums in vats of sake. Usually Sweet. Browse all Umeshu in sakecompany.com

Y

Yamadanishiki

Often called the “king of sake rice”, this strain of sakamai is highly prized for it’s properties that make it well suited for making premium sake. Browse sakes in the Urban Sake Directory using Yamadanishiki sake rice

Yamahai

Yamahai is a yeast starter method that was developed after Kimoto, but before Sokujo. Yamahai allows for natural lactic acid production, but does away with the need for “Yamaoroshi” or the labor intensive macerating/mashing of the yeast starter using long wooden poles as done for centuries in the kimoto method. Yamahai flavor profiles tend to be full bodied and funky. See all Yamahai Sakes in the Urban Sake Directory.

Yeast

Yeast is the micro organism that is essential for the creation of fermented alcohol. Yeast eats any available sugars and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. The yeast also imparts flavors and esthers to the sake. There are various strains of yeast that give off different tastes and aromas.

Yongobin

A standard sake bottle containing 720ml or four “go” 180ml servings.

Yukibie

A term for sake temperature of around 5°C. Sake that is “snow chilled” or icy cold.